Telephone exchange case: Maran brothers appear in CBI court

Former union minister Dayanidhi Maran and his elder brother Kalanidhi Maran, who heads a media conglomerate that includes Sun Network, appeared before a CBI court in Chennai on Friday, in connection with the illegal telephone exchange case.

As pleaded during the earlier hearing, the brothers submitted that most of the documents provided by the CBI along with the chargesheet were illegible and the information provided in the documents could not be ascertained.

To this, counsel for the CBI said they would provide a fresh set of documents. But the Maran brothers claimed that even if fresh photo copies were taken, it would also give the same result. They requested for typed set of copies.

As CBI said they would require at least two weeks’ time to provide typed set of documents, the XIV additional judge for CBI cases Natarajan posted the plea to September 8 for further hearing.

According to the CBI, Dayanidhi Maran, during the check period of June 2004 to December 2006, when he was union minister for communication and information technology, misused his office and installed a private telephone exchange at his residences in Chennai and utilised the facility for business transactions involving Sun Network.

It said he had caused a loss of Rs 1.78 crore to the exchequer. More than 700 high-speed telecom lines were installed at their residences in Boat Club and Gopalapuram, the agency charged.

Among the accused were former BSNL general manager K Brahmnathan, former deputy general manager M P Velusamy and Dayanidhi Maran's private secretary Gauthaman. After a lull, Sun Network personnel Kannan and Ravi, besides Gowthaman, were arrested by the CBI in January 2015 in connection with the case.

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